UN Forces Must Remain in the Democratic Republic of Congo

For Immediate Release

UN Forces Must Remain in the Democratic Republic of Congo

LONDON - Amnesty International has said it
strongly opposes any withdrawal or reduction of the numbers of UN
peacekeepers from the Democratic Republic of Congo, after the
government requested that the current force (MONUC) withdraws from the
country by June 2011.

“Instead of requiring the peacekeepers to leave, the government
should work with the UN in resolving the many protection challenges
that remain,” said Tawanda Hondora, Deputy Director of Amnesty
International's Africa Programme.

Massacres, rape, looting and other attacks on the civilian
population and humanitarian agencies by armed forces and groups
continue unabated, primarily in the war-torn east of the country.

MONUC, the biggest UN peacekeeping mission in the world with 20,500
personnel, remains the only force in the DRC capable of providing a
measure of protection to the civilian population.

“The security and human rights situation has remained dire over the
past year. Withdrawing or reducing the peacekeeping force could have
disastrous consequences,” said Tawanda Hondora.

“UN peacekeeping bases are often the only places where people can seek safety when clashes occur."

The UN Secretary General proposed in 2007 a number of benchmarks
that needed to be met before considering any large-scale MONUC
withdrawal.

They included stabilization of areas where the conflict is at its
worst; completion of the disarmament and demobilization of armed
groups; and creating national armed forces with capacity to defend the
people of the DRC while respecting human rights and the rule of law.

None of these have so far been achieved.

“Government forces do not have the capacity to assume the security
functions currently fulfilled by MONUC, and the government has not
shown the political will to make its forces capable,” said Tawanda
Hondora.

MONUC is not only a military peacekeeping force but includes over
5000 civilian staff that provide vital capacity-building support in
areas of human rights, humanitarian affairs, good governance, policing,
the courts and the penitentiary system.

MONUC has been deployed to the DRC since 1999. Following the end of
the 1998-2003 war, the force is now focused on the Kivus, eastern DRC,
where armed conflict continues.

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Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. Our supporters are outraged by human rights abuses but inspired by hope for a better world - so we work to improve human rights through campaigning and international solidarity. We have more than 2.2 million members and subscribers in more than 150 countries and regions and we coordinate this support to act for justice on a wide range of issues.

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